Misty Moss

first self portraits post-surgery [my ultimate test of body neutrality]

Added 2022-02-16 16:59:20 +0000 UTC

I finally stepped in front of the camera this weekend at our Bare Soul Retreat in Tofino.

The whole surgical process has not been easy, emotionally or physically. It's really putting me face to face with body dysmorphia, internal body insecurities and lingering body image issues, and really reinforcing the idea that the inner work never fucking ends.

It's also a giant reminder of why this self portrait practice is so crucial. It accelerates all healing by eliminating any potential of running and hiding from these thoughts. It magnifies all my insecurities and demands of me to pay attention to them, and to put in the work.

So, today I'm focusing on my 3 W's of processing these feelings:

#1. WHAT: what specifically am I feeling?

#2: WHY: why do I feel that way?

#3: WHERE do these feelings come from or WHO put those thoughts there?

These 3 W's can help us process all our feelings that can arise when viewing images of ourselves and working through uncomfortable feelings. This experience has been the ultimate test of my body neutrality practice and mindset - I keep coming back to all the things I am grateful for that my body does and allows me to experience - without attaching value or worth to it's external physical appearance.

I'm sharing this because I think it's important to remember that when our bodies change, it triggers so much inside us that we have no control over. I thank fuck for all the tools I have in my toolkit that allow me to move through this and process these feelings - and I hope the tools I share can help any of ya'll when you go through these feelings, too.

With all my love,

M xx